Bwala: Al Jazeera Did Not Inform Me My Past Statements Would Be Questioned

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has defended his recent interview with Al Jazeera, saying the network did not inform him beforehand that questions would centre on his past political remarks about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The interview, conducted by journalist Mehdi Hasan on Al Jazeera’s Head to Head programme, has sparked widespread reactions on social media and within political circles.

During the interview, discussions focused on the performance of President Tinubu’s administration, particularly on economic reforms, corruption allegations and security challenges facing Nigeria. However, a key moment occurred when Hasan confronted Bwala with previous statements he had made while he was in the opposition, where he had strongly criticised Tinubu.

Video clips and quotes from those earlier comments were played during the programme, quickly circulating online and generating heated public debate.

Responding to the backlash, Bwala issued a statement defending his performance and accusing the programme of shifting away from the agreed focus of the interview.

He explained that the programme’s producers had contacted him months earlier to discuss governance issues in Nigeria, including security, the economy and corruption. According to him, the possibility of being confronted with past political remarks was never mentioned during their communications.

“Nowhere in our almost six months of communication did they mention that they were going to challenge my past,” Bwala said, adding that he would have prepared adequately if he had been informed beforehand.

The presidential aide also criticised what he described as “opposition research-style journalism,” alleging that some of the quotations used during the interview were inaccurate, while others amounted to “outright fake news.”

Despite his concerns, Bwala said he remains open to appearing on international media platforms to defend the policies and actions of the Nigerian government.

He also addressed criticism surrounding his earlier remarks about Tinubu, explaining that those comments were made while he was part of the political opposition.

According to him, political positions often change as alliances shift in democratic systems, noting that it is not unusual for individuals who once criticised a leader to later work within that leader’s administration.

To support his argument, Bwala pointed out that several members of United States President Donald Trump’s cabinet had previously criticised him before joining his government.

The interview and Bwala’s reaction have continued to generate mixed reactions among Nigerians online. While some supporters commended him for appearing on an international platform to defend the government, critics argued that the questions about his past comments were legitimate and part of normal journalistic scrutiny.

Despite the controversy, Bwala said he holds no personal grudge against Hasan, whom he described as one of the most formidable debaters in journalism. He also expressed willingness to grant another interview where the discussion would focus more directly on the policies and reforms of the Tinubu administration.